Skint (TV series)
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| Skint | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Documentary |
| Narrated by | David Morrissey |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Julian Mercer |
| Location(s) | Birmingham / Bristol |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One |
| Original run | – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Skint is a BBC documentary series centred on the lives of people who use buy back stores and pawn brokers to manage their finances.
Series 1 of Skint (BBC1 TV 2005 - series producer Chris Hutchins) was based in Birmingham and featured Vernon and Bob, and others who used buy back stores to manage their money. A key character was Mary, who ran a buy-back store in Erdington.
Series 2 of Skint (BBC1 TV 2006 - series producer Nick Woodroffe) introduced viewers to a new city and new characters. Attention turned to Bristol and the characters of Tony and Cath, Nick Faber and others. Much of the filming centered around the Cash Converters' on Bedminster High Street and the Gloucester Road.
A 30m special in Autumn 2006 focussed on people who struggled to find a roof over their heads. It was part of the BBC's No Home season. It featured Vernon, Gaz and Cathy as they struggled with the threats of homelessness.
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[edit] Recurring Cast
[edit] Vernon Burgess
Appearing from the first series, Vernon has since become a minor celebrity, with members of the public purchasing his Big Issues on the premise of receiving an autograph.[1]
Vernon was born in the September 1965 at City Hospital, Birmingham. He was educated at Colmore Infant School in his younger years.
His enthusiastic spirit has led him to become the central subject of the programme. Vernon enjoys his entrepreneurial mindset, often purchasing items and reselling with a high mark-up. Vernon recorded a reggae single to coincide with Christmas 2006, entitled "I'm Skint". While not an official release (and therefore not recognised by singles charts), the £2.50 CDR was posted to customers with an accompanying Christmas card, personally signed by Vernon himself.
Vernon currently resides in Brierley Hill, although regularly travels to the city centre to buy and sell the Big Issue. He was wrongly accused of the murder of a young lady on a train in the 1980s. After the establishment of his innocence, Vernon spent twelve weeks in a spell in a psychiatric hospital, the trauma of which resulted in the issues with his current mental health.[1][2]
[edit] Bob Steele
From his first appearance in the initial series, Bob has appeared occasionally throughout the programme. He is a musician intent on making a living through live music, often pawning his guitar for a keyboard in buyback schemes, before deciding to trade back again. Bob has made numerous live appearances, most notably at an Irish bar in Birmingham (for which he was paid £20 to finish early).[3] He has also been seen busking on Erdington High Street, before being moved on by the police.[4]
Skint 1 & 2 were filmed on PD150 and PD170 DV cameras by Chris Hutchins, Nick Woodroffe, Phil Kerswell, Liz Allen, Jon Mowat, Richard Maxwell, Clare Lockhart, Martin Hicks and others.
